Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Modified benznidazole dosing helps prevent and treat Trypanosoma
By Lim, Sukjung et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2024·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Positive clinical outcome using a modified dosing regimen of benznidazole in dogs at high risk for infection or acutely infected with Trypanosoma cruzi.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of four dogs living in an area where Trypanosoma cruzi (the parasite that causes Chagas disease) is common were studied to see if a modified dosing schedule of benznidazole could help prevent infection. Two dogs that received the treatment remained healthy for over two years, while one dog that did not receive the preventive treatment died suddenly from heart issues caused by the infection. The other untreated dog tested positive for the parasite and developed serious heart problems but improved after receiving a higher dose of benznidazole. This suggests that early treatment and preventive measures might be beneficial for dogs at risk of this infection.
People also search for: dog Trypanosoma cruzi infection treatment · benznidazole for dogs · dog heart problems from parasites
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi infection in dogs can cause heart failure and sudden death with few treatment options available. A litter of 4 dogs living in a T cruzi endemic area were randomized to prophylaxis and nonprophylaxis groups as part of a study evaluating a modified benznidazole dosing regimen administered twice weekly to prevent T cruzi infection during a vector transmission season. The 2 dogs that received prophylaxis remained healthy without T cruzi infection or cardiac disease for >2 years. One dog that did not receive prophylaxis died unexpectedly with acute T cruzi-induced pancarditis, and the second dog tested positive for T cruzi and developed complex arrhythmias with markedly increased cardiac troponin I and improved with a higher benznidazole treatment dose. Although the small sample size precludes definitive conclusions, we describe the potential clinical benefit of prophylactic and early treatment with modified benznidazole dosing regimens for dogs with T cruzi infection.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38500407/